Award for Courageous Science

The Award for Courageous Science (external link), the only one of its kind in Germany, honors scientists whose research is characterized by extraordinary, courageous, and innovative approaches. The awards are presented to outstanding young researchers from universities and research institutions in Baden-Württemberg who have achieved success against their peers’ expectations, overcome resistance along the way, and/or built upon preliminary work that was productively "failed" and thus paved the way for new insights.

The Award for Courageous Science is endowed with 30,000 euros. It is jointly sponsored by the Academy and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts.

The Award Recipients

Year	Recipients
2024	Prof. Dr. Kira Rehfeld, Geo- und Umweltforschungszentrum Universität Tübingen
2022	Dr. Katrin Schmelz, Universität Konstanz Dr. Sireen El Zaatari, Universität Tübingen
2020	Dr. Jennifer Wagner, Universität Heidelberg, Zentrum für Astronomie
2018	Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Sabine Gabrysch, Heidelberger Institut für Global Health
2016	Prof. Dr. Erik Schäffer, Universität Tübingen Dr.-Ing. Ferdinand Ludwig, Universität Stuttgart

The Donor

Since 2016, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (external link), has been awarding the Prize for Courageous Science (external link). It is awarded every two years.

The award ceremony takes place in conjunction with the State Research Prize (external link), which has been in existence since 1989. Both Awards are announced jointly.

The Award Ceremony

The Prize for Courageous Science is awarded every two years to innovative scientists. The call for nominations is held jointly with the State Research Prize (external link) and alternates annually with the State Teaching Award (external link).

Potential candidates are nominated by the state’s scientific institutions. Additionally, candidates may self-nominate. An interdisciplinary jury consisting of renowned scientists as well as the presidents of the Max Planck Society and the German Research Foundation decides on the award. The Academy chairs the jury.

The prize may be awarded to multiple individuals at the same time.

Contact

The award is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (external link) in collaboration with the Academy.

On behalf of the Academy, the Managing Director is responsible for the award and can be reached at gf@hadw-bw.de.